Torque-measuring machine



Sept. 20, 1927. 43, 51 C. F. COWDREY TORQUE MEASURING MACHINE FiledSept. 26, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTQRNEY Sept. 20, 1927. c. F. COWDREY6 ,1 1

TORQUE MEASUR ING MACHINE Filed Sept. 26. 1.925 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 js vMENTOR A T TOR/v5) Patented Sept. 20,

OFFICE. I Y

' c ums r, cownnny, or rlm cinunmmessacnusnrrs.

uroBeuE-rmasiinmcfMacrame Q This. invention relates to a machine formeasuring the force applied-tea shatter p A l f Otherie'atur'es of theinvention and novel .The present invention has alargelrange 02f;

uses and may be employed in various-fields. where it is desired tomeasure theiforce relustrate other device to rotate the same. I

quired to rotate a particular objct v One field of use'for thepresentinvention is to determine the force required to rotate the crank shaftof an automobile engine or other internal combustion engine. It might bealso used in a factory to determine the force'required to turn aline-shaft or to drive a particular machine. I

.It is'also Well adapted to measure horseposes.

Devices'known as dynamometershave been proposed heretofore 'to measurepower, and while these devices have been given various forms, theyusually employ a spring or springs to form a driving connection betweenaligned shafts that are arranged so that one may turn thru a small anglerelatively to the other as the load or driving force'increases. lheseproposed devices-are open to the objection that it is diflicult todevise a satisfactory indicator that will be actuated by the rotativemovement of one shaft rela tively to the other under the turning torque.

. The present invention is therefore directed to a construction inwhichthe driving force is transmitted to the mainshaft by a series ofgears one of which is supported for yielding movement under varyingloads, and this yielding movement serves to operate an indicatingdevice. In this manner the difficulty experienced heretofore indesigning a satisfactory indicator that is actuated by the relativemovement of two rotating shafts is avoided.

One important feature of the present in vention resides in the drivingmechanism by which one gear is supported for movement bodily thru an arcof a circle about the axis of another gear undervarying loads, and inmeans'actuated by said movement to indicate the force applied. Anotherfeature of the invention resides in the construction by which either endof the main driving shaft may be secured to the device to be tested torotate the same in one direction or the other. -Another feature residesin the com struction of the supporting frame by which the main shaft maybe adjusted to difierent Pdsitiongto h' its axis with the deviceito bedrrven, Y .Y

combination oi parts in addition tothe above w'ill be hereinafterdescribed in connection vention.-,

: "Inthe drawings?- Fig. 1 is "a perspective view of a completetor'que'measunng machine constructed inaccordance with the present invention.-Fig. 2 on an enlarged-Scale is a'vertical sectional view thru aseriesof gears to be. described: power, and may be used for many other purviewofthe gears shown in Fig.2.

Fig, 301i asmaller scale 'is a perspective -Fig. 4 is a verticalsectional view taken on the line 4-..-4-'of F s-5.-

Fig. 5 is a sectional vlew taken on the line- 55 of Fig. '4; and

In order t at the torque measuring machine of the'present invention maybe readily moved from one lace to another, the machine to be descri edis shown as mounted upon a truck 10 having the supporting rollers'11which may be secured to-the truck by the castors12. It is desirable thatthe main shaft of'the machinebe mounted so that it- Flg. 6 is anenlarged perspective view of I 'theindicatingl wheel to be described.

may be raised or lowered to align the same with the device to be rotatedthereby, and

to this end the main shaft 13 is rotatably supported by a casing 14 andthis casing is slidably mounted between the upstanding columns '15 and16, the lower ends'of which are pivota'lly secured to the truck 10 for apurpose to be described.

In the construction shown, the opposite sides of the casing 14 areprovidedwith the spaced slots 17 adapted to receive a correspondinglyshaped dove-tailed portion upon the upright columns 15 and 16, thearrangement being such that a strong, rigid connection is formed betweenthe sides of the casing 14 and the supporting uprights, while at the ingfrom a side wall not the rating; it. the threaded shaft 18 may berotated by the stub shaft 20 provided "with the cranlr handie 21, andthe inner end oil this stub shalt is provided with a bevel sear mountedwith in the boa: 22 and which meshes with and drives a bevel gearsecured to the upper end of the shaft 18.

la the various uses ot the present device it may be desirable not onlyto raise and lower the main driving; shalt id, but also to tilt the some an inclination to the horizontal position in which it is shown. andto this end the lower ends at the columns to and it are pivotallysecured to the truclr. it) by transversely extending; pins 25 whichextend thru lugrs 2t -formed at the base of the columns and aresupportet'l by lugs :25 upon the track. its a result oi thisconstruction the columns 15 and 16 may be rocked about the pivot ins ina direction transversely to the lent, 1 at the truck 10 and in orderthat the columns may be re: to the desired inclipation, adjusuu in isprovided conelsting" o'lt toothed arena" o bracket 26 the ends at whichare bolted the upper face at the truclr at illh'and a worm 28 mountedupon a transversely errtending shaft 29 journaled in the opposite sidesoi? the column 15 meshes with the teeth oi the bracket 26. 'lhe shaft329 and worm secured thereupon may be rotated by a hand wheel 30 toswing the columns 15 and 16 to the desired inclination about the pivotpins and the adjustment of the columns may be indicated by the pointer31 positioned to cooperate with graduations on the face of the bracket26.

lo the construction shown the main shalt 13 is driven by an electricmotor 353, the sup porting: flange 32 of which is sccured to the underthree of the casing ll. The central shaft of the motor 32 is providedwith the driving pinion 33 Whichmeshes with the large gear 3t that isrigidly secured to the shaft 235, one end oi. which is journaled in alug); 36 within the casing it, and the other end is j'ournalcd within alug formed in the outer wall of the housing 37 for the gear 34-. Theshaft has rigidly secured thereto the pinion 38 which meshes with anddrives the gear 39 that is keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft till.One end oi? this shaft is joru-nalcd in the sleeve ll which isnonrotatably supported by the bracket l9; ot the casing i l, and theother end oi this shaft is journaled in a boss termed upon the wall ofthe casing: The shaft ell] is provided with a driving pinion t5 keyed orotherwise secured thereto.

its above stated. an important feature cit the present invention residesin the arrangement of the driving; gears by which one is permitted topart-also oi a swinging movement the load increases, and ot the meanswhereby this swinging movement serves to operate an indicating; device.'lhe construction shown to this end consists oi the gear 46 which mesheswith the pinion t5 and is supported by the spaced swinging" arms L7 and-18, so that the gear to moves bodily about the axis of the shaft thru alimited angle. The upper portion of the arm 47 is journaled upon thefixed sleeve ti and the upper portion of the arm t8 has the form oi. asegmental near 49 to be described, and 1s mounted upon the long sleeve50, surroundinn the shaft ll). The near 4:6 is rotatably supported bythe stub shaft 51 the opposite ends of which are secured in the spacedarms at and it and this gear has a pinion 52 rinidlvsccured thereto, andin order to reduce the wear between the gears just mentioned and theshaft 5i a sleeve oi. brass or the like 53 may be provided between theshalt and the gears all and The pinion fift meshes with and drives thegear fi l jour naled upon the shaft t0 and this gear is rigidly securedto the long; sleeve which is secured to or is termed integral with apinion 56. The pinion 56 mesheswith and drives the large gear which iskeyed or otherwise secured to the main shaft 13. In the constructionshown a sleeve 58 is provided betweenthe shaft 40 and the long" sleeve50 to reduce the friction therebetwecn. From the construction justdescribed it will be seen that power is transmitted from the motor 32 tothe main shatt 13 thru the various gears described, and that an increasein the power transmitted by these gears will tend to cause the floating"or swinging gear 46 to move around the axis of the shaft 4L0 in aclockwise direction, viewing li ig'. 4t. lhe swinging movement oil? thegear to in this direction is resisted, in the construction shown, by araclr 59 supported in the casing i l for vertical sliding m0vement, andat the lower end of which is provided the coiled spring; or springs 60mounted in a socket termed in the casing 14;. 1h gear 61 rigidly securedto a long shatt 62 supported by the casing, meshes with the rack 59 andalso with the teeth of the segrmental gear 49, the arrangement beingsuch that rocking movement of the segmental gear in a clockwisedirection serves to force the raclr downwardly to compress the springs60. "lllhe movement at the rack 59 in an upward direct-ion may belimited by the stop bolt 63 that may be secured in the desired positionof adjustment by tightening the nuts at the upper end of this bolt.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the reciting movement of thestub shaft 51 and gears mounted thereupon in a clocle Wise direction isresisted by the compressed springs 60. in order that this rocking;movement may serve to operate an indicator, the long shatt 653 is provided with a gear 64: secured thereto near ll ll lllti dicator disk 67is s'ecuredto the'shaftjfidinf the-desired position of angularadjustment by tightening the set scre w.68 and thisdiskobservedthru'thewindow 69 provided in is so positiond'th'at its graduationsmaybe the upper face of, the casing 14.

rotate the shaft 13in one direction, but not the other, but it may bedesirable to rotate the device to betestedin either a right-hand orleft-hand direction. The main driving. shaft-'13 is thereforeconstructed so. that both of its ends project from the casing 1.4: andare squared as at 70 so that either end of the shaft may be placeddriving engagement with the device'to be rotated; As

a result of this construction, if a; shaft of a machine to be tested isto be rotated in one direction, one end of the shaft 13 will be securedthereto, and if the shaft is to be driven in an o posite direction,theother end of the mam shaft 13 will be placed in driving engagementtherewith. In the construction shown, current may be supplied to theelectric motor 32 by securing an electric plug to the contact-pins 71 atthe upper face of the casing 14 and the motor may be started and stoppedby operating the switch buttons 72 mounted in the upper 'end of thecasing.

In the device shown a relatively small motor 32 is employed to drive themain shaft 13, and a number of reducing gears are interposed between thedriving motor and mam shaft so that the latter is rotated at arelatively low speed, but obviously, if it is desired to drive the mainshaft 13 at a high: 1 er speed, a stronger motor may be employed,inwhich .casea number ofthe reducing gears shown may be dispensed with;In some cases it may be'desirable to rotate the shaft 13 by hand thruasmall angle in order to Bring its squared end in align- .ment withthesocket into which it may be inserted. A hand wheel 73 secured to thetransversely extending shaft 74 journaled in the lower portion of thecasing 14 is therefore provided, and has a bevel gear 75 at its innerend which meshes with a bevel gear 76 secured to the shaft 35, thearrangement being such that "rotation of the hand wheel 73 will slowlyrotate the main shaft 13.

What is claimed is v 1. A torque measuring machine, comprising incombinatioma supporting frame, a main shaft rotatively supported .by theframe, driving means for said shaft including power transmittingmechanism, a rack slida-bly supported by said frame, a gear meshing withsaid rack to shift it and associated with said power transmitting mech-I 2. A torque: measuring vmachine, comprisa lngin combination, asupporting frame, a The construction. descrlbe'd will serve to mainshaft ,rotatively supported. 'by' the frame, driving means for saidshaft includ 4 ing poweritransmittmg mechanism, a-rack slidabl'ysupported bysaidframe, yieldingmeans for opposing the sliding movement;

of the rack, a" gear meshing- ,with the'.'-rack to shift it and,associated "with said power transmitting mechanism to he aetuatedby the;variations in the turning torque applied to said shaft, indicating meansactuated by said driving mechanismjto indicate the turn Ein'gforce'applied to the main shaft, and an adjustable stop for said rackand adapted to be adjusted'to vary the force exerted upon .the' rack bytheyielding means.

3. A torque measuring machine, comprising in combination, a supportingframe, a main shaft rotatively supportedby. the frame, a driving motor,a' trainv of gears bej tween the motor and main shaft to drive.

theshaft at reduced speed and including a floating, gear adapted to movein the arc ofa circle about the gear with- 'Which 'it' meshesL as theforce'transmittedby the gears varies, yieldlng means foropposing thearouate movement of said gear, means actuated by the movement of, saidgear to indicate.

the turning force applied to the main shaft, and manually operable meansforrotating the train of gears to turn said shaft through a small angle.

4, torque measuring machine, coinprising in combination, arsupporting,frame, a main shaft rotatively supported by the 'frame, driving meansfor-said shaftincluding a traln'of gears one of which is-mounted forfloatlng movement 1n the arc of: a, circle about the gear with which itmeshes as] the" force transmitted by the gears varies, yield-- ing meansforopposing the arcuate' movement of said gear,an indicator, means foractuatingthe' indicator in response to .the yielding movement of saidgearto indicate the turning force applied to the main shaft, and meansfor securing the indicator adjustably to its actuatinglmeanstofacilitate adjustment of the rea ng of the indicator.

5. A torque measuring machine, comprising in combination, a supportingcasing, a

main shaft supported by the casing, a drivmg motor for said shaft, atrain of gears within said casing for driving the shaft from the motorand one of the gears being mounted for floating movement in the arc of acircle about the gear with which it 1 Eli Lltl (i. ill toripie measuringmachine, co1nprising in combination, av supporting;- base, a pair ofcolumns i'nounted upon said base in spaced rclatirm to each other, acasing; slidably mounted between the columns for slidll slidingconnection with each column that constitutes a strong; bracingconnection bet'iveen them, :1 main shaft rolatabl sup ported by thecasing. i'lriving means for said shalt including a train ol nears one ofwhich mounted for floating movement in the arc ol. a circle about thegear with which it meshes as the force transmitted by the gears varies,yielding incensi'or opposing the arcuate movement of said gear, anindicator, andmeans for actuating the indicator in response to theyielding movement of said gear to indicate the turning; force applied tothe main shaft.

.i-li torque measuring machine, comprisin con'ibination. a supportingbase, a pair at columns mounted upon said base in spaced relation toeach other and for angular adjustnient relatively to the base, a casingslidably mounted between the columns for sliding adjustment and having adove-tailed sliding connection with each column and which constitutes astrong still-oiling connec- --tion between the adjustable columnsadapted to hold them in alignment with each other, a main shaftrotatably supported by the casing, driving, means :tor said shaltincluding a train of gears one of Which is mounted for floating movementabout the gear with which it meshes as the force t 'ansmittcd by thegears 'aries, yielding means for opposing" the movement of said gear, anindieater,- and means for actuating the indicator in response to theyielding; movement oit said gear to indicate the turning torcc appliedto the main shalt. 8. ill torque measuring machine, comprising inconibination, a supporting base, a pair at columns mounted upon saidbase in spaced iulinstnient and having a dove-tailed relation to eachotl'ier, a casing slidably mounted between the columns tor slidingadjustment, means for pivotally securing the columns to said base toradjustment to dil lerent inclinations upon the base, graduated means forindicating the angular adjustment of thecolunins, a. main shaltrotatably supported by the casing, driving" means for said shaftincluding; a series of gears one at \vhiclris mounted for floatingmovement about the gear with which it meshes as the force transmitted bythe gears varios,yieldingg; means for opposing the movement of saidgear, an indicator, and means for actuating the indicator in roponse tothe yield ing iuovon'ient of said gear to indicate the and means foractuating the indicator in in spouse to the movement ol the lastmentioned gears to indicate the turning :lorce applied to the mainshaft-,

lll. ll torque measuring machine, c01npris ing in combination, a drivingmotor, a series oi gears driven by the motor, a shalt haw ing two gearsof said series mounted thcreupon, a second shaft extending parallel tothe first, means for suliiporting the second shaft for movementii'l theare of a. circle about the first shaft, two rigidly connected gearsjournaled upon said second shaft for, tran mitting power from one ofthegears upon the first shaft to the other, yielding means for resistimgthe swinging; movement oi said second shaft. an indicator, means foractuating the indicator in response to till Elli

said swinging: movement, and a main shaft driven by said series oilgears.

lln testimony whcreol, l have signed my name to this specification.

orninnne r. ooivnnnr.

